AirPods disconnect from laptops because Bluetooth pairing breaks, your laptop can't find them, or they're paired to another device
When your AirPods stop connecting to your laptop, the problem is almost always one of three things: they've lost their pairing with that specific laptop, your laptop's Bluetooth is off or malfunctioning, or your AirPods are currently paired to your phone or another device and won't switch over. The fix depends on which one is happening, but you can test and repair each one in about five minutes without restarting anything.
The most common reason is that your AirPods are still connected to your iPhone or iPad. AirPods remember multiple devices but only connect to one at a time. If your phone is nearby and turned on, your AirPods will prefer it over your laptop, even if you want to use them with your laptop instead. This is by design, but it's also the fastest thing to fix.
Key Takeaways
- Check whether your AirPods are currently connected to your phone or another device, because they will not connect to your laptop while actively paired to something else.
- Turn Bluetooth off on your phone, then try to connect your AirPods to your laptop using the Bluetooth menu in System Preferences or Settings.
- If your laptop's Bluetooth is off or not showing your AirPods, restart Bluetooth by turning it off and back on in your system settings.
- If your AirPods still don't appear, forget them from your laptop entirely and pair them again from scratch using the AirPods case.
- Restart your AirPods by holding the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, then white.
Check if your AirPods are connected to another device
Before you do anything else, look at your phone or any other Apple device nearby. If your AirPods are currently connected to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, they will not connect to your laptop. You need to disconnect them from that device first.
On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, and tap the i icon next to them. Tap Disconnect. On a Mac, open System Preferences, click Bluetooth, find your AirPods, and click the x next to them to disconnect. Once they're disconnected from your other device, they should be available to connect to your laptop.
If you don't see your AirPods listed in Bluetooth settings on any device, they may have already disconnected on their own. Move to the next step.
Turn Bluetooth off on your phone and try connecting again
Even if you've disconnected your AirPods from your phone, your phone's Bluetooth is still broadcasting and may interfere. The fastest fix is to turn Bluetooth completely off on your phone, then try to connect your AirPods to your laptop.
On your iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, then tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off. Wait five seconds. Now go to your laptop and open Bluetooth settings. On Windows, click the Start menu, type "Bluetooth settings," and open it. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, and click Bluetooth. Your AirPods should appear in the list. Click or tap them to connect.
If your AirPods appear and connect, you're done. If they don't appear at all, move to the next step.
Restart Bluetooth on your laptop
If your AirPods don't show up in your laptop's Bluetooth menu, your laptop's Bluetooth may have stopped working. Restarting it usually fixes this without restarting your whole computer.
On Windows, open Settings, click Devices, then Bluetooth & devices. Toggle Bluetooth off, wait 10 seconds, then toggle it back on. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, click Bluetooth, and wait for the list to refresh. If Bluetooth was already on, click the power button next to it to turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
Once Bluetooth restarts, your AirPods should appear in the list within 10 seconds. If they still don't show up, your AirPods may need to be restarted or re-paired.
Forget your AirPods and pair them again from scratch
If your AirPods still won't appear or connect, the pairing between your laptop and your AirPods has broken. The fix is to remove them from your laptop entirely and pair them again.
On Windows, open Bluetooth settings, find your AirPods in the list, click them, and select Remove device. On Mac, open Bluetooth preferences, find your AirPods, click the x next to them, and confirm. Now hold the button on the back of your AirPods case for 15 seconds until the light inside flashes amber, then white. This resets them to pairing mode.
Go back to Bluetooth settings on your laptop. Your AirPods should appear as a new device. Click or tap them to pair. Your laptop will ask you to confirm the pairing. Once confirmed, your AirPods should connect and stay connected.
Restart your AirPods if they still won't connect
If your AirPods still don't appear after you've forgotten them and restarted Bluetooth, your AirPods themselves may have a software glitch. Restarting them often fixes connection problems that pairing alone won't solve.
Put both AirPods in the case and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds. Open the case, take out your AirPods, and put them in your ears. They should turn on automatically. If they don't, hold the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber and white. This forces a restart.
Once they've restarted, go back to your laptop's Bluetooth settings and try to connect them again. If they still won't pair after a restart, try the forget-and-pair process one more time, because sometimes AirPods need to be reset twice.
Check for software updates on your laptop
If your AirPods connect to your phone but not your laptop, even after restarting and re-pairing, your laptop's Bluetooth drivers or operating system may be out of date.
On Windows, open Settings, click Update & Security, and click Check for updates. Let Windows download and install any available updates, then restart your computer. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, click Software Update, and install any updates available. Restart when prompted.
After your laptop updates, try connecting your AirPods again. Outdated Bluetooth drivers are a common reason AirPods work fine with phones but fail with laptops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my AirPods connect to my phone but not my laptop?
Your AirPods are probably still paired to your phone and prefer it over your laptop. Turn Bluetooth off on your phone, then try to connect to your laptop. If that doesn't work, forget your AirPods from your phone entirely, restart them, and pair them to your laptop fresh.
Do I have to unpair my AirPods from my phone to use them with my laptop?
No. AirPods can be paired to multiple devices at once. You just need to disconnect them from your phone (not forget them) before they'll connect to your laptop. Once you disconnect, you can reconnect to your phone anytime by turning Bluetooth back on.
What does the light on my AirPods case mean?
White means they're ready to pair or already paired. Amber means they're in pairing mode or have a problem. If the light is amber and won't change, hold the button for 15 seconds to force a restart. If it stays amber after that, your AirPods may have a hardware issue.
Can I use my AirPods with both my laptop and phone at the same time?
No. AirPods only play audio from one device at a time. You can switch between devices by disconnecting from one and connecting to another, but you can't hear from both simultaneously.
Why did my AirPods suddenly stop connecting to my laptop?
The most common reasons are that your phone's Bluetooth turned back on and your AirPods reconnected to it, your laptop's Bluetooth crashed, or the pairing corrupted. Start by turning Bluetooth off on your phone, then restart Bluetooth on your laptop. If that doesn't work, forget and re-pair your AirPods.